Al-Qaeda threat to Denmark on the wane

Terrorists may not have forgotten about the Muhammad drawings, but Denmark seems to have fallen down al-Qaeda’s priority list

As the United States warns its citizens to leave Yemen immediately and shutters embassies and consulates in various parts of North Africa and the Middle East in the face of new terror threats, the threat closer to home is on the decline, experts contend.

The Muhammad drawings have been moved down on al-Qaeda's priority list and Denmark was not mentioned in the global terror warning that the US State Department issued a few days ago that maintained that a “plot was underway”. Overall, security experts say that as time passes Denmark becomes less of a terrorist priority. 

“Denmark is no longer a terror target to the same degree as earlier,” Lorenzo Vidino, a renowned terror and al-Qaeda expert, told Information newspaper. “It’s been quite some time since I have seen al-Qaeda refer to the Muhammad drawings.”

Magnus Ranstorp, a professor of international terrorism at Forsvarshögskolan in Stockholm, made a similar analysis of the threat to Denmark, but stressed that the threat continues to exist.

“Denmark is not nearly as much of an obvious target as it previously was," Ranstorp said to Information. "Denmark still appeals to al-Qaeda as a target and an attack on Denmark would immediately be registered as revenge for the drawings, but other issues have taken precedence in their agenda.” 

Both experts point to the US as the terrorist’s prime enemy, but said that the war in Syria is also playing an important role.

The suspected increase in terrorism activity has prompted the US to close down embassies and consulates in more than 20 countries, and the UK, France and Germany quickly followed suit. Even Norway closed its embassy in Saudi Arabia to the public yesterday.

The Danish intelligence agency, PET, agreed that the Muhammad drawings still motivates terrorists but the agency is monitoring developments closely and has not seen enough reason to change the threat levels against Danish targets. Government officials are also unaware of any imminent and specific threats. 

“We haven’t planned any extraordinary closures of embassies. We are following the situation closely and are in continuous contact with the Nordic countries and the EU,” Ole Egberg Mikkelsen, the head of the Foreign Ministry’s civil service and communications, told Jyllands-Posten newspaper.

The Foreign Ministry has advised all travellers from going to Yemen, and made similar warnings about visiting Saudi Arabia.

Mikkelsen did warn that Danish travellers could still face a heightened security risk.

“If you travel, it is a good idea to register and follow the travel guidelines,” Mikkelsen said.

TOP STORIES

  • Navigating big love, big moves and big feelings

    Navigating big love, big moves and big feelings

    Experts believe it takes seven years to move into a new culture, according to leading Danish psychologist Jette Simon and therapist Vibeke Hartkorn. For expat couples, the challenges of starting a new life together in Denmark can put pressure on relationships, but emotions-focused therapy can help.

  • More and more Danes are working after retirement age

    More and more Danes are working after retirement age

    Politicians debate a lot these days about when you can retire. The reality shows that an increasing number of Danes like to work, even if they can withdraw from the labor market. Financial incentives help.

  • Environmental activist fears death in prison if extradited to Japan

    Environmental activist fears death in prison if extradited to Japan

    Canadian-born environmental activist Paul Watson has been in prison in Greenland for almost 100 days awaiting an extradition decision for a 14-year-old offence against a Japanese whaling vessel that he calls a “minor misdemeanor”. The 73-year-old had previously passed through Ireland, Switzerland, Monaco, France and the USA without trouble, before Greenlandic police arrested him in July.

  • Denmark too slow to ease recruitment rules for non-EU service workers, say industry associations

    Denmark too slow to ease recruitment rules for non-EU service workers, say industry associations

    When the Danish government in January presented the first of its schemes to make it easier to recruit foreign labour from outside the EU, it was hailed by the healthcare and service sectors as a timely and important policy shift. But while healthcare changes have been forthcoming, the service sector is still struggling, say the directors of the industry association Dansk Industri and one of the country’s largest private employers ISS.

  • Jacob Mark had it all coming in rising SF party – now he quits

    Jacob Mark had it all coming in rising SF party – now he quits

    SF became Denmark’s largest party in the EP elections in June. In polls, the left-wing party is breathing down Socialdemokratiet’s neck. It is a tremendous place to be next in line in Danish politics. But today, 33-year-old Jacob Mark announced he is quitting politics at the threshold of the door of power.

  • EU leaders toughen stance on return of irregular migrants

    EU leaders toughen stance on return of irregular migrants

    EU leaders agreed last week to speed up returns of migrants irregularly entering the bloc. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is pleased, describing Denmark’s previous attempts to pitch a stricter asylum and migration policy to the EU as “like shouting into an empty handball hall in Jutland”. But not all leaders are enthusiastic.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

  • Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    On Friday 27 and Saturday 28 of September, The Copenhagen Post will be at International Citizen Days in Øksnehallen on Vesterbro, Copenhagen. Admission is free and thousands of internationals are expected to attend

  • Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

    Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

    Chisom Udeze, the founder of Diversify – a global organization that works at the intersection of inclusion, democracy, freedom, climate sustainability, justice, and belonging – shares how struggling to find a community in Norway motivated her to build a Nordic-wide professional network. We also hear from Dr. Poornima Luthra, Associate Professor at CBS, about how to address bias in the workplace.

  • Lolland Municipality launches support package for accompanying spouses

    Lolland Municipality launches support package for accompanying spouses

    Lolland Municipality, home to Denmark’s largest infrastructure project – the Fehmarnbelt tunnel connection to Germany – has launched a new jobseeker support package for the accompanying partners of international employees in the area. The job-to-partner package offers free tailored sessions on finding a job and starting a personal business.

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs